[Publib] Jobs and People

[Rob Amend]

It might be a good idea to have a web site devoted to data manipulations,
mashups and hacks tailored to library use. It may also do us some good if we
focus on developing tools for Koha and Evergreen. A variety of hacks for
these two systems could make them more attractive to libraries and loosen
the vendors' hold on library data.

Rob Amend
Reference Librarian
rob.amend at gmail.com
blog.reftechrob.com


On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 4:21 PM, Jesse Ephraim <jephraim at roanoketexas.com>wrote:

> >I strongly doubt that the average librarians abilities to perform
> >searches, research, instruct, and use information technology is at the
> >same level as the average library user. Anecdotally, I've not found
> this
> >to be case in libraries that have a dedicated reference department
> staff
> >with full time degreed librarians in any library I've ever worked for
> or
> >used. Anyone who says different I'd like to see your evidence for such
> a
> >sweeping claim.
>
> It would be difficult to provide evidence for either argument. It's all
> anecdotal, since nobody out there (to my knowledge) is doing a study on
> it.
>
> Keep in mind, too, that more and more public libraries don't have
> dedicated reference staff with Masters degrees anymore.
>
> The average librarian probably does have stronger skills in those areas
> when it comes to "have not" patrons.  With "have" patrons, however, the
> gap is closing in many cases.  Many "power users" are very competent
> when it comes to online and technologically-based information gathering
> and research.  If we are to claim to be expert "information
> professionals," the average librarian should be several levels higher in
> skill and knowledge in that area than "power users."
>
> It goes beyond research skills, though.  Many patrons are far more
> willing and driven than the average librarian to learn and use newer
> technological tools on their own time (not waiting for training), such
> as mashups.  If we are to present ourselves as experts, we need to be
> ahead of the curve, and make sure that we all have basic data skills,
> such as SQL.
>
>
>
> Jesse Ephraim
>
> Director, Roanoke Public Library
> 308 S. Walnut
> Roanoke, Texas 76262
> (817) 491-2691
> jephraim at roanoketexas.com
>
>
>
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